Combustion apparatus



Oct. 27, 1931. s TH 1,829,197

COMBUSTION APPARATUS Filed May 2 19 9 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 27, 1931.

S. K. SMITH COMBUSTION APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITED s'ra'rss PATENT OFFICE STANLEY K. SMITH, OF WESTFIELD, IJASSACI-IUSETTS,ASSIGNOR TO THE H. B. SMITH COMPANY, OF VIE- TFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS COMBUSTION APPARATUS Application filed May 24, 1929.

This invention relates to combustion apparatus, and more particularly to boilers, for example of the type employed for domestic heating such as is shown in my copending application, Serial No. 239,969, filed December 14,1927. More particularly the present invention provides improvements facilitating the care and ordinary repairs of a heater or boiler of this character.

Thus in accordance with this invention, improved means are provided to permit the ready repair or replacement ofparts and to afford more ready accessibility to the interior of the boiler for cleaning. For example, the grate-bars are arranged in conjunction with an operating link so that the latter, when normally positioned, is effective in holding the bars in operative position, means exterior of the ashpit being provided to hold the link in normalposition'but readily permitting its movement out of this position so that any one of the grate bars may be removed or replaced. Preferably the retaining means for the operating link may be released by the use'of such a simple tool as a screw driver or. the'like. Furthermore this arrangement serves positively to hold both ends of the grate bars in place, thus preventing the wedging of'clinkers or other foreign matter be tween thebars and their supports and the possible resulting interference with normal movement of the grate bar assembly. This invention also provides an improved clean out door which affords access to the interior of the boiler and which, while positively held in position, may be readily removed by the turning of. a single hand knob without requiring any tools. A further aspect of the invention relates to an improved means for connecting a damper to a control chain or the like-which prevens catching or snarling of the chain and thus facilitates operation of the boiler.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the improved boiler;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end view of one grate bar with the operating crank integral therewith;

Serial No. 365,629.

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 5 is a view of the opposite end of the bar;

Fig, 6' is a side elevational viewof the ashpit with a portion of its wall broken away to show the grate bar supporting and operating means;

Fig. 7 is a broken section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is'a broken elevational view of the front of the ashpit;

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views showing the retaining means for the grate operating link in its released and normal positions respectively;

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of a portion of a damper or closure member with a control element projecting therefrom before the latter has been twisted to its normal position;

Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the control element in its final or normal position;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation showing the same in conjunction with a control chain;

Fig.14 is an elevational view of a cleanout door;

Fig, 15 is a sectional view through such a door anda portion of the boiler supporting the same;

Fig. 16 is a sectional detail of a portion of the door and related parts; and

Fig. 17 is a sectional detail of the rear of the ashpit.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the boiler proper is designated by the numeral 1, and the ashpit upon which the boiler rests is indicated by numeral 2. The front of the boiler is provided with the conventional fuel door 9 giving access to the interior combustion chamber which is connected by suitable internal fines 10 which communicate with the smoke bonnet 18 mounted upon the rear of the boiler proper. This bonnet is connected to the funnel or smoke pipe 19 leading to the stack. The bonnet l8 mav be provided with the usual cold air inlet door 21 as well as a damper, etc not shown. A sliding damper 27 is supported upon suitable guides at the back of the furnace for afiording additional control of combustion asset forth more particularly in my above-identified application.

As shown in Fig; 7, a pair of supporting angles 20 may extend along opposite sides of the interior of ashpit 2 which isv provided with the usual clean-out door t: These an-' gles are provided with a plurality of integral bosses 22 which'may be engaged by socket portions of the grate bars. One of the latter is illustrated more particularlyin Figs. 3, 4 and 5 and comprises a body portion 23 having outstanding parallel grate elements 21 and an integral depending crank arm 25 provided with a crank portion 26. One end of each grate bar is provided. with a cylindrical recess or socket 29 adapted to receive one ofthebosses 22 while theopposite end of the grate bar, i e. that adioiningthe crank,

. is provided with asocket portion 30 which be lifted out of engagement with the bosses 22,-while at the same time, the bars may be rocked by the'reciprocating movement of v the link, i To this end a suitable bracket 40 projects outwardly from the bottom of the ashpit, this bracket being provided with spaced projecting arms 41 having aligned openings. to receive a pin 12 forming a pivot forva control lever t t.normallyadapted to swing from front to rear, through a limited pivotal pathf Lever is provided with a 7 slot 45 engaging a pin 46 which also passes through an opening in-the outer end of link 82. c I Link 32 extends through openings 50, in

' the front and rear respectively. of the ashpit,

which are so shaped and.,dimensioned. that they will permit lateral-bodily movement of the link out of engagementwith endpo'rtions ofthe crank members. Preferably arms 41 I upon 'thebracket 40 have their inner faces provided with surfaces which are inclined to each other and are angularly disposed in relation to the axis ofpin 42; The pivot pin 42fits loosely in the pivot opening at the lower end of-jlever t and'thus the lever is adapted to be rocked'out of-its normal position indicatedby dot and dash lines in Fig. 10, to the position. illustratedin Fig. 9, thereby carrying thelink32 out of engagement with the crankelementsl A retaining plate 51 normally is positioned over the opening '50jand is provided with a narrow slot 52 adapted tohold the link 32 in its normal pofsition to prevent sucha' rocking movement.

preferably is held in place this arrangement.

The lower portion of the slotted plate 51 is provided with a protuberance '53 which engages a suitable slot 54; in the upper portion of the part of the bracket 4:0 that is engaged with the wall of the ashpit; for example, this recess may form a continuation of one of the openings through which extends one of the fastening elementsholding this bracket to the ashpit'. The upper portion of the plate 51 by a single screw 54- or the like. 7 J

VA similar plate 51 is disposed over the opening 50 at the back of the ashpit to hold the rear portion of the operating link in place, this cover plate having its protuberance 53 (Fig. 17) engageable with" a recess in an integral extension 57 of the ashpit wall and being held in place by a single screw 54:.

It is thus evident that removal the two fastening elements 54, which may be accomplished by a commonplace tool such as a screw driver, permits the plates 51 to be swung out of their normal positions so that the lower end of lever 44 may swing about pin 12 until stopped from further movement by the lugs t1, thus swinging the link 2 to the position shown in Fig.8 out; of engagement with the cranks 26, permitting ready removal of the grate bars for repairs, replacement, or the like;

The ashpit preferably is provided with a rear draft door or closnreGO whichis connected to a regulator such as a heat responsive member 61, for example, a diaphragm. Preferably the door 60 may he formed of cast metal having a strip S of comparatively ductile sheet metal embedded therein when the door is cast, such strip, for example, in itially occupying the,positionillustrated in Fig. 11. A suitable opening 69 is punched in the outer end of this member S, after the door has been cast, the strip may be twisted to the shape shown in Figs. 12 and 13. A control cl1ain'63 maybe operatively connected to the regulator. to swingfthe door in response to the position of the regulator as determined bythe temperature of the boiler. The lower end of the chain 63 is provided with a suitable abut-mentmember 64 that has a larger-diameterthan opening 69-so that it may engage the strip 8 to open the door when the chain is pulled upwardly. Catching or snarling of the chain is avoided'by 'A plurality of clean-out doors TOareJdisposed adjoining the fines 10 in the upper part of the boiler. These doors prefer'ablyare mounted on metal frames 71 'disposed'about each of the door openings. and secured-to the body portion of the boiler. These frames 7 preferably are providedwith inturned flange portions 73 and with a continuous plane face .74 which engages the outer portion 5 ofthe door 70. Each door. preferably comprises an outer; dished portion having suitable inwardlyextending lugs76 and a fireeshield '77 held by bolts i'8aga=i11st. the lugs. Preferably the lower edge. of, the shield 77.is= provided withan inwardly and downwardlycurved lip 81-,that isadapted to-hook over the inwardly extending flange 73 upon the frame 71,-while a hand knob-80 is pivota'lly mounted-imthe plate '75 and projects through a suitableopening in the shield 7'? and carries aneccentri callymounted lug; 9. which -isengageable with adow-nward extension ofv the. flange 73 whenthe knob is turned-to proper position. However, by turning the knob,- the'upper :part ofthedoor may he moved away from the frame and the lip 81 may be'liftedyoutqof engagement with the'frame and the door entirely removed. r recordingly, manipulation of but a single fastening means is necessary to detach the door from the boiler housing while the comparatively heavy lug 79 and the lip 81 afford means firmly retaining the doorin place While-adjustment ofthe bolt 78 compensates for wear orsl ight warping.

Y Any suitableuneans may be--aflorded for mounting the door frame upon theboiler housing. Thusin Fig, 16, for example, I show screw elements 91 which may-be threaded into nut members-96 that are embedded in-the furnace wall, these screw members passing through enlarged portionsQO of an outwardly projecting fiangeupon the frame in order to. hold the-latter in place. i It thus evident that the present invention affords an improved structural arrangement of boiler parts which faoilitatessthe care andordinaryrepair andreplacement of parts.

. I claim: .1. Combustion ppara-tus of theclassde scribed comprising a housing, a pluralityiof: grate bars extending across the same, =said grate beingmounted for limited pivotaln'iovement, a linknormallyholding thebars. in place, and retaining means .exteriorof the ash-pitholding the link in normal position wherein it operatively engages the bars toimpart movement thereto, said retaining-means being removable, whereby t, e link maybe moved out of its normal position to allow, the bars'to he removed.

2. Combustion apparatuscomprising, anash-pit, a pluralityof ,grate bars-mounted therein. supporting means therefor atopposite sides of thepit, the ends of said liars being pivotallymounted and having a loose interfitting engagement with said supporting means, means for oscillating thehars 1-- eratively connected thereto and holding themin said interiittingengagement, and a retaining element exterior of the ash-pitholding said last-named meansin normal position, the release of said means from the element permitting the bars to-be removedfromtheir, engagement with the supporting means.

3. Coml'iustion aplutratus comprising an ashspit, a plurality-of grate bars extending transversely thereon supporting elements disposed along each side of the ash-pit, said elements having an interfittingengagement with end portions of the gratehars, but

permitting the latter to be lifted out of engagement with the elements, a crank carried by each grate bar, and an operating link articulated to the cranks and normally holding the bars in. place, said link passing through anopening atithe front of theashpit, removal of the. link from its normal position serving to disengage it from the several cranks,wheroupon any one of the bars may be lifted out of its operative position.

i. Combustion. apparatus comprisingan ash-pit, aplurality of grate bars extending transversely thereof, supporting elements disposedalong eachside of the ash-pit,-said elements having an interfittingengagement with endpo'rtions of the grate bars, but permitting the latter to be lifted. out of-engagomentwith the elements, a crank carried lay each grate bar, an operatinm link articulated to the cranks and normally holdingthebars in place, said link passing, through an opening at the front of the ash-pit-, the opening being of suflicient-widthlto permit movement ofthe link to engage-it with-or disengage it from the cranks,and-means nor- 5 mally retaining the'link at such a part of the opening as to preventits disengagement from the cranks.

5. Combustion apparatus comprising. an ash-pit, a. pluralit' :of-grate bars extending transversely thereof, supporting elements disposed along each side ofr the ashepit, said elements having an inter-fitting engagement with end portions of the grate bars,.but permitting the latter to be lifted out of engage ll'lGDlI'WllEh the elements, arrankcarried by each grate bar, an operating link articulated to the cranks and normally holding the bars ill-place, said link passing through anopening at thefront of the ash-pit, the opening heingof s utficient width topermit movement of the link to engage it with or disengage it' from the cranks, a plate cove-ring the o'pening, said plate having a. slot forming a guide for the link through which the link extends, and releasablemeans normally holding the plate in fixed position, movement of the plate outof its normal posit-ionpermitting-the link to he removed laterally and thereby disengaged from the cranks, s0 thatv any selected one of the grate bars may be removed.

. 6. Combustion apparatus comprising an ash-pit, a pluralityoffirato bars extending transversely thereof, supporting elements disposed alongeach side of the ash-pit,-sai ilelements having an intertitting engagement with end portions of the grate bars but permittingthe later to be lifted out ofaengage ment with the elements, a crank oarriedhy each grate bar, an operating linkarticulated;

to" thecranks and normally holding the bars in place, saidlink passing through an opening at the front of the ash-pit, the opening bein latterally wider than'the link" to permit t e latter to be moved out of engagement vvith the cranks, a'plate over said opening, 'saidplate having a guide slot for the link,

means normally holding the plate in fixed position, movement of theplate out of its normal position permitting'the link tobe removed laterally and thereby disengaged from the cranks, so that any, selected oneof the grate barsmay be removed, and means at the rear of the ash-pit to permit a similar movement of the rear portion of the link.

7. Combustion apparatus comprising an ash-pit, a plurality'of grate bars extending transversely thereof, supporting elements 'disposedalong each side of the ashpit, said 7 elements having an interfitting engagement with end portions of the grate bars, but permitting' thelatter to be lifted out of engagement with the elements, a crank carriedby each grate bar, an operating link articulated to the cranks and normally holding the bars in place, said link passing through an opening at the front of the ash-pit,. the opening being'of larger size than the link, a plate pivotally mounted over said opening, said platehavinga guide opening through which the link extends,ra single fastening element normally restraining the link from pivotal movement, the removal of said fastening element-permitting the movement ofthe plate out of its normal position, thereby permitting the link to be moved laterally to disengage it from the cranks, so that any selected one of the grate bars may be removed.

7 '8, Combustion apparatus comprising an @ash-pit, a pluralityof grate bars extending transversely thereof,, supporting elements disposed along eachside of the rash-pit, sald elements having an interfitting engagement with end portions of the grate bars, but permitting the latter to be lifted out of engagement with the elements,ia crankcarried V by each grate bar,'an operatinglink articulated'to'the cranks and no'rmallyholding disengage it from the cranks,so' that any selected one of the gratebars-may be removed,

the bars in place, said link passing through an'opening at the front of the ash-pit, the opening being of larger size than the link,a

plate pivotally mounted over said opening and" providing a guide opening. through which. the blink extends, a single fastening element normally restraining the link from pivotali'movement, the release of the fastening element permitting the movement ofthe plate out of its normal position, thereby al lowing the link to be removed laterally to the back of the ash-pit havingan opening similar to that in its front, and a similar plate similarly mounted having a guide opening through which the rear of the link extends.

9. Combustion apparatus comprising an ash-pit, a plurality of grate bars extending transversely thereof, supporting elements disposed along each side'ofthe ash-pit, said elements having an interfitting engagement with end portions ofthe grate bars, but permitting the latter to be lifted out of engagement with the elements, cranks carriedby the grate bars, an operating link articulated to the cranks to hold the bars in place and normally passing through an opening at the front of the ash-pit, said opening being of larger" size than the link, a plate pivotally mounted over said opening,said plate having a guide opening through which the link extends, fastening means normally restraining the plate from pivotal movement, said plate,when moved out of normal position permitting the link to be moved laterally and thereby disengaged from the cranks, so that any'selected one ofthe grate bars may be removed, a lever connected to the link to rock the grate bars, a bracket upon the front of the ash-pit upon which the lever is mounted, said bracket having a portion in loose interfitting engagement with a portion of the plate whereby the latter may be pivoted when the front and rear, respectively, of the ashpit, said openings being; of larger size than the link, a plate pivotally mounted over each opening, each plate having a guide passage through which the link extends, fastening means normally restraining each plate from pivotal movement,said plates, when released from the fastening means, beingmovable laterally thereby permitting lateral movementof the link to disengage it fromthe cranks so that any selected one ofthe grate bars maybe removed. a

11. Combustion apparatus comprising an ash-pit, avpluralitytof grate bars extending transversely thereof, supporting elements disposed along each side of the ash pit, said elements having, an interfitting engagement with end portions ofthe grate bars, but permitting the latter'jtobe lifted out of engagement with the elements, said interfitting engagement being provided by sockets and parts received therein, the socket at one end" of each grate bar being substantially U-shaped and i the other socket having a substantially cylindrical wall, a

crank carriedfby each grate bar, and an operating link articulated to the cranks and normally holding the bars in place, said link passing through an opening at the front of the ash-pit the removal of the link from its normal position in the opening serving to move it out of its bar holding position Whereupon any one of the bars may be lifted out of its operative position.

Signed by me at Westfield, Massachusetts, this 20th day of May, 1929.

STANLEY K. SMITH. 

